§ 73.644 Subscription TV transmission systems.
(a) Licensees and permittees of commercial and noncommercial TV
broadcast and low power TV stations may conduct subscription operations
only by using an encoding system that has been approved in advance by
the FCC. Such advance approval may be applied for and granted in
accordance with the procedures given in Subpart M Part 2 of the Rules.
(b) The criteria for advance approval of subscription TV transmitting
systems by the FCC are as follows:
(1) Spectral energy in the transmitted signal must not exceed the
limitations given in § 73.687(e).
(2) No increase in width of the television broadcast channel (6 MHz.)
is permitted.
(3) The technical system must enable stations to transmit encoded
subscription TV programs without increasing the RMS output power from
either the video or audio transmitters over that required to transmit
the same program material using normal transmission standards.
(4) Modification of a type accepted TV broadcast or low power TV
transmitter for encoded transmissions must not render transmitter
incapable of operating in accordance with the operating specifications
upon which type acceptance was granted. (See § 2.1001 (b), (k))
(5) Interference to reception of conventional television either of
co-channel or adjacent channel stations must not increase over that
resulting from the transmission of programming with normal transmission
standards.
(6) Subscriber decoder devices must meet the provisions, where
required, of Subpart H of Part 15 of the FCC Rules for TV Interface
Devices.
(c) Prior to commencing the transmission of encoded subscription
programming, the licensee or permittee of a TV broadcast or low power
TV station must perform such tests and measurements to determine that
the transmitted encoded signal conforms to the radiated radio frequency
and demodulated baseband and waveforms, transmitter operating power
determination, and the occupied bandwidth limitations specified in the
application for advance FCC approval of the system being used. A copy
of the measurement data is to be maintained in the station files and
made available to the FCC upon request.
(d) The licensee of a station transmitting an encoded subscription
service must have at the transmitter control point the technical
specifications for the system being used of both the aural and visual
baseband signals and the transmitted radiofrequency signals, and have
the necessary measuring and monitoring equipment, including transmitter
output power measuring equipment, to determine that the transmissions
conform to the advance approval specifications on file with the FCC.
Full operating specifications for the system must be available to
representatives of the FCC upon request.
(e) The operating power of the transmitters during encoded operations
must be determined and maintained according to the procedures given in
the application for advance approval.
(f) A station using an encoding system in accordance with the
specifications filed with the application for advance approval is
deemed to be exempted from those technical regulations of this Subpart
and Subpart H to the extent they are specifically detailed in the
application.
(g) No protection from interference of any kind will be afforded to
reception of encoded subscription programming over that afforded
reception of non-encoded signals.
(h) A licensee or permittee may make no modifications on a subscription
encoding system that would alter the characteristics of the transmitted
aural or visual signal from those specified in the application for
advance approval. A licensee or permittee of a station replacing its
encoding system must perform the measurements required by paragraph (c)
of this section. A TV broadcast station licensee or permittee must also
send a letter advising the FCC of the new system being used as required
by § 73.642(b) of this chapter.
(i) The station licensee is fully responsible for all technical
operations of the station during transmissions of encoded subscription
programming, regardless of the supplier of the encoding equipment or
subscription program service.
Note: Stations transmitting encoded subscription programming prior to
October 1, 1983, must comply with all technical and operating
requirements of this Section no later than April 1, 1984. Stations not
having the information to comply with this Section must obtain such
information from the manufacturer of the encoding system being used,
and if necessary, by measurements of the station's transmission system.
(j) Upon request by an authorized representative of the FCC, the
licensee of a TV station transmitting encoded programming must make
available a receiving decoder to the Commission to carry out its
regulatory responsibilities.
[ 48 FR 56392 , Dec. 21, 1983, as amended at 57 FR 48333 , Oct. 23, 1992;
66 FR 58982 , Nov. 26, 2001]
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